Comfort Padding and a Helmet Comprising The Comfort Padding

ABSTRACT

A comfort padding, configured to be attached at an innermost surface of a helmet, which is facing a wearer&#39;s head, for providing a shearing movement in the comfort padding in response to an oblique force applied to the helmet in use, the comfort padding comprising a fabric or nonwoven inner and outer layer, which are stretchable, and at least two layers of membrane material between the inner and outer layer, and between the two layers of membrane material there is a lubricant material such as gel or liquid. The membrane layer has a low friction surface allowing for a sliding movement between at least the outer layer and the membrane material. A helmet comprising the comfort padding.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/SE2016/051033, filed on Oct. 24, 2016, and titled “A Comfort Paddingand A Helmet Comprising The Comfort Padding,” which claims priority toSwedish Patent Application No. 1650277-5, filed on Mar. 2, 2016, each ofwhich is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of a comfortpadding and a helmet comprising the comfort padding.

BACKGROUND

The understanding of how oblique impacts affects the brain of a personis increasingly growing and so also the different ways of taking care ofoblique impacts towards helmets. Different solutions have been provided,such as having a sliding layer arranged between a shell and an energyabsorbing layer, or between two energy absorbing layers. According toEuropean Patent No. 2440082 an attachment device for attachment to awearer's head is provided, which is fixed to the inside of the energyabsorbing layer, and where a sliding occurs between the attachmentdevice and the inside of the energy absorbing layer. In WO2013/10473 abladder comprising a low friction liquid or gel is shown which isprovided to manage the angular forces separately from the compressiveforces. The compressive forces are to be managed by the liner.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The aim of the present invention is to provide a functionally effectiveyet cost effective way of providing increased head safety for a personcarrying out any type of sport or the like needing a helmet.

The solution according to the present invention is to provide a shearingand sliding movement closer to the person's head by having the shearingand sliding movement to occur within comfort padding instead of in thehelmet. Usually a helmet comprises an outer shell (although optional),an energy absorbing layer (often called a liner) and on the innermostside of the energy absorbing layer, facing the wearer, at least onecomfort padding. The comfort padding may be one piece reaching todifferent positions inside the helmet or several patches at desiredpositions to add comfort for the wearer between the head and the energyabsorbing layer, which usually is made of EPS or sometimes EPP, althoughother materials are conceivable, too. A comfort padding has an overallflat configuration in one plane. When attached in a helmet it followsthe innermost surface of the helmet, which will make up a plane ofshearing movement.

Shearing movement comprises all movements roughly in the plane of thecomfort padding and comprises specifically also sliding movement, alloccurring within the comfort padding. The shearing plane may, dependingon the position in the helmet and size of the comfort padding, be almostflat to curved.

A comfort padding has usually a fabric material both at a side to beattached against the inside surface of the helmet and at a side to abutagainst a wearer's head. Between the fabric sides a polymer foam isprovided. Comfort paddings are usually attached in a fixed yetdetachable way, which may be accomplished by means of using hook andloop material, such as Velcro®.

According to a first aspect of the present invention is a comfortpadding configured to be attached at an innermost surface of a helmet,which is facing a wearer's head, for providing a shearing and slidingmovement in the comfort padding in response to an oblique force appliedto the helmet in use. The comfort padding comprises a fabric or nonwoveninner and outer layer, which are stretchable, and at least two layers ofmembrane material between the inner and outer layer. Between the twomembrane layers there is a lubricant material such as gel or liquid. Themembrane layer has a low friction surface allowing for a slidingmovement between at least the outer layer and the membrane material.

According to an embodiment a sliding movement is possible between theinner layer and the membrane layer having a low friction surface.

According to an embodiment the comfort padding comprises layers, seenfrom the inner side facing a wearer's head in use, the stretchablefabric or nonwoven material, open cell polymer foam, a membrane layer,lubricant material, another membrane layer, and the stretchable fabricor nonwoven material, provided facing the innermost surface of thehelmet.

Preferably the fabric is breathable and the polymer foam is an open cellpolymer foam in order not to let the wearer become too sweaty at thecomfort padding.

According to an embodiment at least the membrane layers areinterconnected along the rims so as to provide a closed and fluid tightspace, in between the membrane layers, comprising at least a fluid. Theinner and outer layers may be interconnected along the rims. Preferablyall the layers are interconnected along the rims.

According to an embodiment an extra layer of fabric or nonwoven materialis positioned between the open cellular foam and the membrane layer. Theextra layer of fabric or nonwoven material between the open cellularfoam and the membrane layer has preferably a low friction surface.

According to an embodiment a surface configured to attach to theinnermost side of a helmet is loopy or roughened in order to attach tofor example hook material, such as Velcro.

According to a second aspect of the present invention a helmet isprovided, comprising an energy absorbing layer, comprising at least onepart, having an outer side facing away from a wearer's head and aninnermost side facing the wearer's head, at least one piece of comfortpadding according to the inventive idea, provided at the innermost sideof the energy absorbing layer.

Thus an inventive comfort padding have been provided which has superiorpossibilities to handle oblique impacts due to the cooperating shearingof the gel or liquid and the sliding between at least the outer layerand membrane layer, i.e. both shearing and sliding, within the comfortpadding. Since both the sliding and the shearing occurs inside thecomfort padding the rotational force of the oblique impact will behandled as close to the head as possible thus limiting the torque of thehead. Additionally, the comfort padding will take up radial forces, too,especially when using a gel and preferably an open cell foam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show aspectsof one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to the precisearrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a comfort padding in cross sectionalview.

FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a comfort padding in crosssectional view.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a comfort padding in cross sectionalview.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of a comfort padding in cross sectional viewhaving interconnected rims.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section of an embodiment of a padding havinginterconnected rims.

FIG. 6 shows a cross section of a further embodiment of a padding havinginterconnected rims.

FIG. 7 shows a cross section of an embodiment of a padding during anoblique impact.

FIG. 8 shows a comfort padding in a helmet, seen in a cross sectionalview.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1 a comfort padding 1 is shown per se. It comprises a firstlayer, an outer layer 2, which is to be positioned closest to a helmet,at the innermost surface of a helmet, such as an energy absorbing layer.The outer layer 2 is a layer of fabric or nonwoven material and it ispreferably stretchable.

FIG. 1 also shows a second, an inner, layer 3, which is to be positionedclosest to a wearer's head 16. Also this layer 3 is a layer of fabric ornonwoven material and preferably stretchable. The material is preferablya material which feels nice and comfortable against the skin of thewearer. It could also have wicking properties in order to lead sweatfrom the wearer into the material and thereafter vaporisation of thesweat. The two layers 2, 3 may be of the same material but notnecessarily.

In between the two layers 2, 3 two layers of membrane material 5, 5′ areprovided. There between a lubricant material 8 is present, such as gelor liquid, which may provide a shearing movement in reaction to anoblique force. It is preferred to use a gel. These membranes 5, 5′ arepreferably impervious to fluids. The edges 7 of at least the membranes5, 5′ may be fluid tight interconnected, for example by means ofwelding, see FIG. 4. Preferably the inner and outer layers 2, 3 are alsointerconnected along its edges 6, although it is not necessary, as canbe seen in FIG. 5-6. All the layers and membranes may be connected inthe same rim if desired (not shown).

At least one of the membrane layers 5, 5′ has a low friction surface andthus will allow for a sliding movement, between at least the outer layer2 and the membrane layer 5, in response to an oblique impact. Preferablyalso the inner membrane layer 5′ has a low friction surface allowing asliding movement between the inner layer 3 and the membrane layer 5′.Thus the sliding movement will occur within the comfort padding 1.

In FIG. 2 a further embodiment of the comfort padding 1 is shown incross sectional view. In the present figure an open cell polymer layer12 is positioned between the inner layer 3 and one of the membranelayers 5′. Preferably the membrane layer 5′ has a low friction surfaceand thus will allow for a shearing movement, i.e. sliding movement,between the membrane layer 5′ and the open cell polymer layer 12 inresponse to an oblique impact. Thus additional sliding movement willoccur within the comfort padding 1.

The open cell polymer foam will provide comfort to the wearer and alsofacilitate sweat vaporisation.

In FIG. 3 an additional fabric or nonwoven material layer 13 is shown.It is provided between the membrane layer 5′ and the layer of open cellpolymer foam 12. Also in this embodiment it is preferred that themembrane layer 5′ has a low friction surface and thus will allow for ashearing movement, i.e. sliding movement, between the membrane layer 5′and the additional fabric or nonwoven material layer 13 in response toan oblique impact.

In FIG. 4 a further embodiment of the comfort padding 1 is shown incross sectional view. In the present figure the two membrane layers 5,5′ are interconnected along their rims 7. Thus a closed volume 8comprising at least a lubricating fluid or gel is provided. Preferablythe inner and outer layers 2, 3 are interconnected, too, along its edges6, either at the same rim 7 (not shown) or at a second, outer rim 15, asshown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 two different embodiments of conceivable comfortpaddings are shown. In FIG. 7 it is shown when a helmet 9 is exposed toan oblique impact and how the comfort padding 1 may move in addition tothe inner shearing and sliding movements. The comfort padding 1 may rollsomewhat, up to the fastening/connection 15 to an innermost side 14 ofan energy absorbing layer 10 of a helmet 9. It is not a sliding movementbetween the comfort padding 1 and the inside 14 of the energy absorbinglayer 10 since the comfort padding 1 is fastened/connected to the inside14, for example by means of Velcro. For example, the connection 15 doesnot cover the full area of the comfort padding but instead only aportion in order to render partial rolling of the comfort paddingpossible. In case the oblique impact is stronger, the comfort padding 1may start to be torn off from the inside 14 of the energy absorbinglayer 10, see also FIG. 8. This rolling movement is possible due to thestretchable inner and outer layer 2, 3.

As the person skilled in the art understands it is possible to mix, pickand choose from the suggested materials in any way as long it is notcontradicting the inventive idea of a shearing movement within thecomfort padding in response to an oblique impact.

The membrane layer material having a low friction surface may be anymaterial having a coating of a low friction material or made of amaterial having low friction itself.

The open cell foam may be a foam of Polyethylene (PE) or similar, havinga density between 10-50 kg/m3. The low density open cell polymer foammay be a foam of Polyethylene (PE) or similar having a density between5-40 kg/m3.

The shearing movement is preferably at least 5 mm, preferably at least5-10 mm and most preferred at least 10 mm or more.

In all shown embodiments it is preferred that the inner 2 and outerlayer 3 is made of a flexible and stretchable fabric or nonwovenmaterial. It is preferably knitted and may comprise yarn of elastan,lycra, spandex, polyester or nylon.

In FIG. 8 at least one comfort padding 1 of any embodiment of thepresent invention is provided at the innermost surface 14 of a helmet 9.The helmet 9 comprises an energy absorbing layer 10 and preferably anouter shell 11.

The presently described embodiments are only examples and shall not beseen as limiting the scope of the invention, which is presented in theclaims.

The foregoing has been a detailed description of illustrativeembodiments of the invention. It is noted that in the presentspecification and claims appended hereto, conjunctive language such asis used in the phrases “at least one of X, Y and Z” and “one or more ofX, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated or indicated otherwise, shallbe taken to mean that each item in the conjunctive list can be presentin any number exclusive of every other item in the list or in any numberin combination with any or all other item(s) in the conjunctive list,each of which may also be present in any number. Applying this generalrule, the conjunctive phrases in the foregoing examples in which theconjunctive list consists of X, Y, and Z shall each encompass: one ormore of X; one or more of Y; one or more of Z; one or more of X and oneor more of Y; one or more of Y and one or more of Z; one or more of Xand one or more of Z; and one or more of X, one or more of Y and one ormore of Z.

Various modifications and additions can be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of this invention. Features of each of the variousembodiments described above may be combined with features of otherdescribed embodiments as appropriate in order to provide a multiplicityof feature combinations in associated new embodiments. Furthermore,while the foregoing describes a number of separate embodiments, what hasbeen described herein is merely illustrative of the application of theprinciples of the present invention. Additionally, although particularmethods herein may be illustrated and/or described as being performed ina specific order, the ordering is highly variable within ordinary skillto achieve aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, thisdescription is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not tootherwise limit the scope of this invention.

Exemplary embodiments have been disclosed above and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the artthat various changes, omissions and additions may be made to that whichis specifically disclosed herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A comfort padding configured to be attached at asurface of a helmet, the surface of the helmet configured to face awearer's head, the comfort padding comprising: an inner layer configuredto come into contact with the wearer's head when the helmet is in useand an outer layer configured to be attached to the surface of thehelmet, at least one of the inner and outer layers including astretchable material; a lubricant located between the inner and outerlayers; and a first low friction surface located between the lubricantand the outer layer, the first low friction surface configured toprovide a relative sliding movement between the outer layer and thelubricant in response to an oblique force applied to the helmet.
 2. Thecomfort padding according to claim 1, further comprising a second lowfriction surface located between the lubricant and the inner layer, thesecond low friction surface configured to provide a relative slidingmovement between the inner layer and the lubricant.
 3. The comfortpadding according to claim 1, further comprising an open cell polymerfoam located between the inner layer and the lubricant.
 4. The comfortpadding according to claim 3, further comprising an intermediate layerpositioned between the open cell polymer foam and the lubricant.
 5. Thecomfort padding according to claim 4, wherein the intermediate layer hasa low friction surface.
 6. The comfort padding according to claim 1,further comprising two membrane layers, one of the two membrane layersproviding the first low friction surface, wherein the lubricant isdisposed between the two membrane layers, each of the membrane layershaving rims, wherein the membrane layers are interconnected along therims so as to provide a closed and fluid tight space to contain thelubricant, wherein the lubricant comprises a liquid.
 7. The comfortpadding according to claim 6, wherein the inner and outer layers haverims, wherein the rims of each of the inner and outer layers and themembrane layers are connected together .
 8. The comfort paddingaccording to claim 6, wherein the inner and outer layers each have edgesand are interconnected along their corresponding edges.
 9. The comfortpadding according to claim 1, further comprising a loopy or roughenedsurface configured to attach to a hook material located on the surfaceof the helmet.
 10. The comfort padding according to claim 1, wherein theinner layer includes a wicking material.
 11. A comfort padding for usein a helmet, comprising: inner and outer layers; and a lubricantdisposed between the inner and outer layers, the lubricant designed andconfigured to shear in response to an oblique force applied to thehelmet; wherein the comfort padding includes at least one low-frictioninterface between the lubricant and the inner and outer layers, the atleast one low-friction interface designed and configured to facilitaterelative sliding movement between the lubricant and the inner or outerlayer in response to an oblique force applied to the helmet.
 12. Thecomfort padding of claim 11, further comprising first and secondlow-friction membrane layers disposed between the inner and outerlayers, the lubricant disposed between the first and second low-frictionmembrane layers.
 13. The comfort padding of claim 11, further comprisingfirst and second membrane layers disposed between the inner and outerlayers, wherein the first and second membrane layers define afluid-tight volume that contains the lubricant.
 14. The comfort paddingof claim 11, wherein at least one of the inner and outer layers includea stretchable material designed and configured to stretch in response toan oblique force applied to the helmet.
 15. The comfort padding of claim11, further comprising a foam layer located between the lubricant andone of the inner and outer layers.
 16. The comfort padding of claim 15,further comprising a fabric or nonwoven material layer located betweenthe foam layer and the lubricant.
 17. The comfort padding of claim 11,wherein the outer layer is configured to be attached to the helmet andincludes an attachment portion configured to be directly attached to thehelmet and a rolling portion configured to not be directly attached tothe helmet, the rolling portion configured to separate from the helmetand roll relative to the attachment portion in response to an obliqueforce applied to the helmet.
 18. The comfort padding of claim 11,wherein the at least one low-friction interface includes a firstlow-friction interface between the inner layer and the lubricant and asecond low-friction interface between the outer layer and the lubricant.19. The comfort padding of claim 11, wherein the lubricant includes atleast one of a gel or a liquid.
 20. A method of manufacturing a comfortpadding for use in a helmet, the method comprising: receiving inner andouter layers; receiving a lubricant; and disposing the lubricant betweenthe inner and outer layers so that the lubricant is designed andconfigured to shear in response to an oblique force applied to thehelmet, wherein the disposing includes providing at least onelow-friction interface designed and configured to provide relativesliding movement between the lubricant and at least one of the inner andouter layers in response to an oblique force applied to the helmet. 21.The method of claim 20, further comprising disposing a foam layerbetween the lubricant and one of the inner and outer layers.
 22. Themethod of claim 21, further comprising disposing an intermediate layerof material between the foam layer and the lubricant, wherein the atleast one low-friction interface includes a low friction interfacebetween the lubricant and the intermediate layer of material forproviding relative sliding movement between the foam layer and thelubricant.
 23. A method of using a helmet that includes at least onecomfort padding secured to an inner surface of the helmet, the at leastone comfort padding including: inner and outer layers; and a lubricantdisposed between the inner and outer layers; the method comprising:positioning the helmet on a wearer's head so that the inner layerdirectly contacts the wearer's head; and in response to an oblique forceapplied to the helmet, shearing the lubricant and rolling a portion ofthe comfort padding to thereby absorb a portion of the oblique forcewith the comfort padding.
 24. The method of claim 23, furthercomprising, in response to the oblique force applied to the helmet,sliding one of the inner and outer layers relative to the lubricantalong a low-friction interface.
 25. The method of claim 23, furthercomprising, in response to the oblique force applied to the helmet,stretching at least one of the inner and outer layers.